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Block Island outlook bright for 2008

Striped-bass fishing at Block Island probably will be great this season, according to the experts, but one of them says it will be expensive for mainlanders.

"By the time you pay for eels and gas, it’s a $100 trip," said Johnny Martini, a commercial rod-and-reel fisherman, known for catching trophy stripers on live eels. Last season, he caught a 53-pounder. In 2007, gasoline cost well over $3 a gallon at marinas on the mainland and between $4 and $4.25 on the island. Anglers like Martini, who trailer their boats, will save money by fueling at inland stations, but the trip to Block Island will still be expensive.

Basing their forecasts on the last three years of fishing, experts believe the cost of traveling to Block Island should be an investment that pays off for anglers looking for large bass. Last season, nglers fishing aboard Fred Bowman’s charter boat, Bottom Line, caught three bass over 50 pounds, 30 fish over 40 pounds, and many more in the 20- to 40-pound range. Fred fished with hickory shad and eels as bait, and trolled his signature tube-and-worm rigs.

Posted by Tom Meade  at 8:54 AM | Permalink

Ice fishing tournament on private pond

Gerry Fournier is launching a benefit ice-fishing tournament in Harrisville Feb. 2. The event will be on a private pond on the Crystal Lake Golf Course.

Crystal Lake holds bass, pickerel and perch, says Ray. Opportunities to fish there are rare.

The entry fee is only $10 per person. Some of the money will go to a prize purse, but most of it will benefit Between The Cracks. The fund gives money to residents of Burrillville and Glocester who need financial help for whatever reason.

This winter, Ray expects an increase in calls from folks who need help paying high heating costs.

Crystal Lake Golf Course is on Rte. 102 in Harrisville. The Feb. 2 tournament is scheduled to run from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. There is no pre-registration. Just show up to help our neighbors and enjoy a day of ice fishing on a private pond.

Posted by Tom Meade  at 9:35 AM | Permalink

HotBytes audio: Rock Hoppin' Mike on surf fishing

Rock Hoppin' Mike Frank, a hardcore surfcaster from Westerly, talks about the lures he makes and how he fishes them to catch trophy bass. The striper in the photo weighed 40 pounds. Rock Hoppin' Mike caught it on Nov. 1.
Click here to listen to the full interview.

Posted by Mike McDermott  at 8:51 AM | Permalink | Comments 1

RISAA presents a double header

Making lures and fishing rods

The Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers Association is featuring two Rhode Island craftsmen to explain how they build rods and lures when the group has its next seminar, Monday, Jan. 28 at 7 p.m.

Steve Medeiros, president of RISAA, explains:

“Advantages of a Custom Rod” will be presented by Robert Barlas, the owner of Wickford Rodworks. Bob has been building and repairing rods for ten years. 'It's really a hobby that has gone out of control,' he said. 'What was once something to pass the time during the winter months has turned into a full time job.'

"Bob is mostly self taught. He learned by reading every book, magazine and internet article he could find, but he also gained help from a few rod builders who were willing to share their knowledge. Through practice and careful listening to what fishermen wanted, he has been able to fill some voids over what is available in mass-produced rods. In his seminar, Bob will explain the options and components available with a custom rod, and the care that a custom rod builder takes in assembly and turning of a work of art.

"Then, 'Building & Swimming a Classic Metal-lipped Swimmer' will be presented by Armand Tetreault, the owner of Rhode Island Poppers and Atlantic Offshore Lures. Armand founded Rhode Island Poppers five years ago, with humble beginnings creating classic wooden bluefish poppers. Those lures have changed dramatically since then. Today, he designs and his family builds a complete line of inshore and offshore tackle, Atlantic Offshore Lures. Because many of his customers still favor the original wooden lures, Armand still makes them, but these days his efforts are devoted to the development and testing of new products. In this seminar, Armand will describe how a metal-lipped swimmer is built, and for those who want to try making their own lures, he'll give a few pointers on how to turn wood bodies, what hardware to use, how to seal and paint them and where to find the items you will need. He'll also give some advice on properly swimming them.

"The seminar is held at the West Valley Inn on Blossom Street in West Warwick and is open to the public. A $10 donation to the RISAA Marine Fisheries Scholarship Fund is requested from nonmembers."

For more information and directions visit RISAA’s website, www.risaa.org.

Posted by Tom Meade  at 10:23 AM | Permalink

HotBytes audio: How to make next fishing season a good one

In a telephone interview about the outlook for fishing on Narragansett Bay, Capt. Jim White talked about what worked last season. Tom Meade asked him about the most effective rigs and lures. Click here to listen to Jim's complete answer.

Posted by Mike McDermott  at 3:18 PM | Permalink

Salmon stocking this week

The Department of Environmental Management palns to stock about 450 Atlantic salmon broodstock in five ponds this week in anticipation of the winter ice-fishing season. Winter trout stocking will take place later in the month.

Salmon stocking locations will include Olney Pond in Lincoln, Stafford Pond in Tiverton, Barber Pond in South Kingstown, Meadowbrook Pond in Richmond, and Carbuncle Pond in Coventry. The salmon, mostly between five and 12 pounds each, are from the US Fish and Wildlife Service's Nashua, N.H. and White River Junction, Vt.

“This is the greatest number of salmon that we have received for stocking in several years, a great New Year’s gift for our anglers,” says Michael Lapisky, Fish and Wildlife Division Chief.

A current fishing license and a Trout Conservation Stamp are required to keep or possess a salmon. The daily creel and possession limit for domestic Atlantic salmon is two fish as part of the daily trout limit, which currently stands at two per day.

Tests by the US Fish and Wildlife Service indicate that domestic Atlantic salmon produced by national fish hatcheries in the northeast do have low levels of PCB contamination, but the PCB levels do not exceed existing federal consumption safety levels. To protect public health, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, in conjunction with the US Environmental Protection Agency, recommends that those eating these salmon restrict themselves to one meal per month.

At present, there is no safe ice, according to DEM officials. As the winter season progresses, anglers should check with individual communities about safe ice conditions on local ponds before ice fishing. For ice conditions at Olney Pond at Lincoln Woods State Park, they can call DEM's 24-hour ice safety hotline at 222-2632.

Ice must have a uniform thickness of at least six inches, DEM officials say, before it is considered safe. It generally takes at least five to seven consecutive days of temperatures in the low 20s before ice may become safe. Even then, the strength of the ice is determined by a number of factors such as the size and depth of a pond, presence of springs or currents, and local temperature fluctuations. DEM has an ice safety guide that can be found online at its website, www.dem.ri.gov, by clicking on "Parks and Recreation" under "Offices and Divisions."

Posted by Tom Meade  at 5:06 PM | Permalink